Arrangement of movable thread-contacting lamellae on a wave-type loom

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of movable thread-contacting lamellae for use on a wave-type loom, said arrangement comprising a plurality of thread-contacting lamellae that are guided during movements therefore in open zones between plate-like guide elements, disposed side-by-side in a row over the width of the loom, said elements being assembled together to form a unitary pack, and means for directing streams of air through the zones between the guide elements in which movements of the thread-contacting lamellae occur whereby accumulation of textile fibers, produced during the operation of the loom, within said zones is prevented.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,785,408 Strauss g Jan. 15, 1974 1 ARRANGEMENT 0F MOVABLE 3,500,871 3/1970 Strauss 139/12 ggfggigigggl LAMELLAE ON A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,111,398 11/1954 France 139/12 Inventor: Edgar H. Strauss, Ruti/Zurich,

Switzerland Machinery Works Ltd., Ruti/Zurich, Switzerland Filed: Aug. 23, 1972 Appl. NO.Z 283,063

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 86,160, Nov. 2, 1970, abandoned.

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Robb 139/1 C Fletcher 139/1 C Primary Examiner-Henry S. .laudon Att0rneyDonald D. Denton l 5 7 ABSTRACT An arrangement of movable thread-contacting lamellae for use on a wave-type loom, said arrangement comprising a plurality of thread-contacting lamellae that are guided during movements therefore in open zones between plate-like guide elements, disposed side-by-side in a row over the width of the loom, said elements being assembled together to form a unitary pack, and means for directing streams of air through the zones between the guide elements in which movements of the thread-contacting lamellae occur whereby accumulation of textile fibers, produced during the operation of the loom, within said zones is prevented.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET ll 0F 4 PAIENTEDJAN l SIUM ARRANGEMENT OF MOVABLE THREAD-CONTACTING. LAMELLAE ON A WAVE-TYPE LOOM This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 86,160 filed Nov. 2, 1970 now abandoned.

This invention relates to an arrangement of movable thread-contacting lamellae for use on a wave-type loom in which the thread-contacting lamellae of the arrangement are guided in their movement between plate-like guide elements which are arranged in a row over the width of the loom and in their entirety constitute a pack of guide elements.

In this type of moving lamellae arrangement, the guide elements act to prevent lateral deflection of the lamellae. It will be understood that in a wave-type loom .the moving thread-contacting lamellae may' take the form of lamellar reeds (or reed teeth) or lamellar heddles. Thus, very thin reeds can be used with relatively thin guide elements. It therefore becomes possible to dispose a large number of reeds side-by-side across the loom. If these lamellae constitute individual lamellar heddles, a relatively large number of heddles also can be fitted per unit of length or predetermined length if this is required. The above-mentioned arrangement also consists of a large number of guide elements arranged side-by-side in a row. All these elements form a pack which extends over the entire width of the fabric to be woven. Depending upon circumstances, a single thread-contacting lamella or a number of lamellae can be fitted between each two adjacent guide elements.

In practice this kind of combination of moving thread-contacting lamellae and guide elements has proved to be basically reliable. It does, however, happen that particles of textile fibers become trapped between the guide elements. When this occurs in those zones which are engaged by the lamellae during their movement, i.e., within the zones in which the lamellae move, these fibers can be pressed against the side walls of the guide elements and can adhere thereto. Thus, in time thickened portions of fiber can form which have an inhibiting effect upon the movement of the threadcontacting lamellae. Because of the considerable resultant friction the moving lamellae and guide elements become heated and other effects occur that are generally disadvantageous in the operation and service life of the loom.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid these disadvantages. Thus, this invention contemplates an arrangement of movable thread-contacting lamellae which is characterized in that for the purpose of keeping clean at least those zones of the guide elements in which movement of the thread-contacting lamellae occurs, means are provided for .directing streams of air through the zones thereby preventing accumulation of textile fibers produced during operation of the loom. More particularly, the invention is directed to an arrangement in which the air directing means includes an unoccupied space which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pack of guide elements and which, adjacent to the zones between theguide elements, is defined by at least one limiting surface formed adjacent to said zone, is contiguous with the guide elements, and opens towards the elements; and a plurality of airpassages which terminate in the unoccupied space whereby air directed via said passages into the unoccupied space will sweep outwardly through the zones and thereby clean the zones of fiber.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to its specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wave-type loom or multi-phase weaving machine on which the arrangement of this invention is used;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken at right-angles to the longitudinal direction of a pack of guide elements with reed teeth on the loom;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken at right-angles to the longitudinal direction of a pack of guide elements showing an arrangement of a plurality of heddles on the loom.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and I FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, partly in section and broken away in part for clarity.

In all the figures like reference numerals are used to designate similar elements.

The perspective view of a wave-type loom or multiphase weaving machine shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the arrangement of a pack of guide elements with reeds or reed teeth on this loom. The warp threads 12 run from a warp beam 11 over the guide rollers 13 and 14 and a warp-thread monitor 15 and pass around a roll 16 which can be designed as a shed-equalizing roll. By means of a heald arrangement comprising substantially horizontal heddles (shown in FIG. 3), the warp threads 12 are formed into successive sheds directly beyond the roll 16, an open shed 17 being present where the front portion of each pick-inserting element or shuttle 18 is located, and a shed-change taking place between each two adjacent shuttles 18. This situation is shown in FIG. 1 by appropriate hatching. For the purpose of the weaving operation there are provided a plurality of shuttles 18 which move simultaneously and in succession over the width of the loom. The shuttles 18 are moved forwards by the reed teeth 19 which operate as drive members. The reed teeth 19 also perform the function of beating up the inserted weft threads at the beat-up point or fell 20. The reed teeth are in the form of thin lamellae. The shuttles 18 are guided in each of the open sheds 17 by the warp threads 12. The reed teeth 19 are incorporated in the system or arrangement 21 which is firmly secured to the loom-frame 22. The

arrangement 21 comprises a large number of guide elements 37 arranged side-by-side and carried by a support 36. These guide elements 37 as a whole form a pack which extends over the width of the loom. Between each two adjacent guide elements 37 there is fitted a lamellar reed tooth 19. The driving shafts 23 and 24, extending through the arrangement 21, produce the movement of the reed teeth 19. Each of these shafts has a helical profile. As a result of these profiles, rotation of the driving shafts 23 and 24 about their axes causes the reed teeth 19 to be swung about a shaft 30 (shown in FIG. 2) in such manner that each reed or reed tooth l9 always leads the preceding tooth by a short distance during its cycle of movement. In this way, an undulating movement proceeding from right to left in FIG. 1 is produced by the reed teeth 19 as a whole, and the shuttles 18 are carried along by this movement. The

open sheds 17 also move from right to left at the same rate. The woven material is wound on to the cloth beam 28 via the pull-in roller 26 and the pressure roller 27.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the arrangement 21 which is disposed at right-angles to the longitudinal direction of the-pack of guide elements. (This longitudinal direction is the same as the lengths of the axes of the driving shafts 23 and 24.) In FIG. 2, the lamellar reed teeth 19 are shown in the extreme positions which they occupy as a result of the swinging movement imparted by the shafts 23 and 24. The reed teeth or lamellae 19 are swung about the shaft 30 along which they are arranged side-by-side. The driving shafts 23 and 24 are mounted in the trough-like elements 31 and 32 provided or formed in the bearing block 33. This block is firmly attached to the support 36 by means of threaded bolts, not illustrated.

The reed teeth 19 are disposed between guide elements 37. The guide elements 37 are thin, broad-faced structures which can be produced by stamping from sheet metal or plastic sheets. They are arranged in a row side-by-side and parallel with each other. By means of the rods 38 whichare passed through holes in the guide elements 37 and are positioned transversely of these elements, the guide elements 37 are held together to form a pack which extends over the entire width of the loom.

One lamellar reed tooth 19, for example, is fitted between adjacent elements 37, the broad sides of the teeth 19 being disposed parallel with the faces of the guide elements 37. These elements prevent the teeth 19 from deflecting laterally. In order to keep the guide elements 37 at a precise distance from each other, distance pieces or spacer means are provided between them. These spacer means can take the form of helically wound wires, one such helical wire being fitted around each of the rods 38, and-one turn of the wire being present between each two adjacent guide elements 37. The spacer means are not shown in the drawings.

The pack of guide elements 37 is carried at its front end by support 36. For this purpose the support has a projection 40 and each element 37 has a nose-like ledge projection 44 which engages the projection 40. In the assembled condition each of the ledge projections 44 is secured by the rail 42 when the rail is pressed down by screws 43 distributed over its length.

Each of the guide elements 37 has a circular recess 49 at its rear end. A rail 46 is arranged transversely of the elements 37. The rail comprises a thickened rodlike portion 48 which accurately fits into the recesses 49 and which is pushed through these recesses in a direction at right-angles to the elements 37. The rail 46 is secured to the support 36 by screws 45.

FIG. 2 also shows a shed 17 formed by warp threads, and a shuttle 18 passing through this shed. The woven material or fabric 25 moves upwards immediately in front of the loom part 41. The fabric begins at the beatup point 20.

Between the bearing block 33 and the support plate 36 is located an air supply chamber 50. This chamber is supplied with air by means of the air supply device 51. Air passages 52 running from the air supply chamber 50 terminate at the unoccupied space or elongated chamber 53 which is defined by an air-discharging means 58. Unoccupied space 53 is defined by the side face 54 of the bearing block and the side face 55 of the support plate 36. The shape of the unoccupied space 53 is also defined by the contour line 56 of the edges of the guide elements 37. The unoccupied space 53 is also defined by an air discharge opening 59 open in the direction of or towards the guide elements 37 thus defining substantially a unitary elongated air discharge opening across the width of the pack of guide elements. The air passages 52 are distributed at regular intervals over the length of the pack of guide elements 37. They take the form of narrow slots, the longitudinal sides of the cross-section of these slots 52 lying parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pack of guide elements 37 When the loom is operating, the worm shafts 23 and 24 rotate. This imparts swinging movements to the reed teeth 19 about the shaft 30. These movements occur in such manner that the forward ends of the reed teeth 19, which project from the guide elements 37 and extend through the warp threads of the sheds 17, execute as a whole an undulatory movement which, on the one hand, carries along the shuttles 18 and, on the other, beats up the inserted weft threads at the beat-up point 20.

It is not possible to prevent individual fibers from becoming detached from the warp and weft threads and creating a certain amount of fly or lint as a result of the movement of the reed teeth 19. These fibers can settle on the guide elements 37 and can find their way between them. This danger exists particularly at the forward upper portion of the guide elements 37 (at the upper left-hand portion of these elements as viewed in FIG. 2). When these particles of fiber pass between the guide elements 37 and into those zones defined by the end positions of the reed teeth 19, they can be pressed against the side walls of the elements 37 and cling to them so that the gaps or open zones between the guide elements 37 can graduallybecome stopped up. This makes it difficult for the reed teeth to move between the guide elements 37.

The unoccupied space 53 is provided in order to keep these fibers away and to keep at least these zones between the elements clean. To this end, air is constantly supplied to this space through the air passages 52 which terminate therein. This air escapes by flowing through the gaps between the guide elements 37. This prevents fiber particles from passing into the gaps and being deposited on the guide elements. It might be thought or believed that the air would escape at a few discrete points and that the required cleaning effect would not be present everywhere if or unless extremely large quantities of air were not used. A surprising effect of the present invention is that this is clearly not the case and that, contrary to all expectation, a good cleaning action and freedom from fibers are achieved. The zones in question are in fact kept very clean merely by using the exhaust from the suction fan which is in any case present on the loom. This is even the case when the lateral ends of the space 53 are not closed. In the normal case, however, the unoccupied space 53 is closed at both ends of the pack of guide elements 37 by cover plates. It seems quite clear that even a very weak airstream suffices to keep fiber particles away from the zones between the guide elements 37. It is of course important that air be present over the entire length of the space 53. For this reason there are provided a plurality of air passages 52 which are distributed over the length of the pack of guide elements 37. It will be appreciated from the above description that the unoccupied space 53 should not be too small and should be of a sizeso as to equalize the air pressure as much as possible in the longitudinal direction of this space.

In a further developed construction of the invention an air supply chamber 56 is provided. This is supplied with air by the air supply device 51, and the air then flows from the chamber 50 through the air passages 52 to the unoccupied space 53. When the air supply chamber 50, as is the case in this embodiment, extends over the entire length of the guide elements 37, equalized air pressure will obtain both in the air supply chamber 50 and in the space 53, in the longitudinal direction of the pack of guide elements 37. This construction further ensures that some air flows'through all the gaps or zones between the guide elements 37, and that. the guide elements 37- are kept clean in a reliable manner over the entire length of the pack in which they are assembled. This air supply chamber 50 is also normally closed at both ends of the pack of guide elements 37.

The last-mentioned embodiment offers the further advantage that the continuous flow of air provides a cooling effect. In the embodiment shown, the air supply chamber 50 is located between the support 36 and the bearing block 33. If heat is generated by friction, this of course occurs particularly between the worm shafts 23 and 24 and the reed teeth 19 and on the worm shafts 23 and 24 and the bearing block 33. It is thus obvious that the air supply chamber 50, associated with the driving means 23, 24 and 33, is very advantageously positioned for the purpose of effecting cooling of these elements.

On the other hand, it is also possible to cover parts of the pack of guideelements 37 and thus to prevent penetration by loose fibers, and also to cause the air flowing between the guide elements 37 to move along certain required paths. As seen in FIG. 2, the forward upper zone of the guide elements 37, for example, is covered by a glued-on piece of metal foil material 57. The covering of this zone offers the advantages that, on the onehand, that zone of the pack most exposed to fiber particles is covered and, on the other hand, the air coming from the unoccupied space 53 is forced into the zone acted upon by the reed teeth 19 where it is most useful.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the invention is illustrated in connection with the lamellar heddles 60 used to form the successive sheds 17. FIG. 3 again shows a guide element 37 which is one of a row arranged side-by-side to form a pack for guiding reed teeth 19 in their swinging movement about the shaft 30 (which movement is produced by the worm shafts 23 and 24). Below this system there is disposed a second pack of guide elements; one of these elements 62'is shown and the pack is formed in the same way as the one made up of the guide elements 37. The second pack shown in FIG. 3 is held by rods 63. The guide elements 62 forming the pack are likewise held apart from each other by spacer means which are not shown in this figure.

Fitted between adjacent guide elements are one or several lamellar heddles 60. Each of these has an eye 61 through which is drawn a warp thread 12. Movement of the heddles 60 in their longitudinal direction causes sheds to be formed across the loom. A drive mechanism actuated by eccentrics 64 and 64' moves the heddles 60. The eccentrics 64 and 64' move in opposite ways i.e., they are offset by 180. The guide elements 62 contain slots 65. Slots are also provided in the heddles 60 and extend in the longitudinal direction thereof. Rods 66 extend transversely of the slots in the heddles 6t) and the guide elements 62. The rods are held in their horizontal position by the elements 62 and serve the purpose of horizontally guiding the heddles 60. For this purpose the thickness of the rods 62 must correspond exactly both to the width of the slots 65 and the width of the slots in the heddles 60.

Above the pack of guideelements 62 there is again provided an air supply chamber 70 which receives air continuously through the air supply means 71 during operation of the loom. This air flows from the chamber 70 through the air passages 72 to the unoccupied space or elongated chamber 73 defined by air discharge means 58a. The chamber 70 is formed in a housing positioned over the elements 62 and is closed on all sides except for the passage from the air supply means 71 and the passages 72. Since the unoccupied space 73 is again defined by a boundary surface 74 and is open towards the guide elements 62 to provide substantially a unitary air discharge opening 59a, the air flows outwardly between the guide elements 62 to the surrounding atmosphere. A pluralityof passages 72 are again provided at regular intervals over the length of the pack guide elements 62, and both the chamber 70 and the unoccupied space 73 extend over the entire length of the pack of elements 62. In the same manner as described in reference to FIG. 2, the deposition of fly and other contaminating material on the guide elements 62 and in the gaps between them, particularly on that side on which the textile material 12, 25 is located, is avoided. Since a chafing action is applied to the threads immediately in front of the elements 62 by the movement involved in forming the sheds, it is advisable to provide the free space 73 at the forward end of the elements 62. An improved. action should also be achieved here if a foil 77 is fitted on the front side immediately above the heddles 60. Apart from preventing the penetration of fibers, the foil 77 acts to prevent too great a proportion of the air delivered from the unoccupied space 73 from flowing outwards immediately, and instead causes the air to pass downwardly into the space or zone acted upon by the heddles where it is most useful.

It will be appreciated that the suction fan present on a wave-type loom usually is located adjacent to the lower right-hand side of the loom as shown in FIG. I. The air supply means of this invention, as heretofore described, may use the exhaust of the suction fan or may be connected via appropriate conduits to another separate source of positive pressure clean air.

It will be appreciated also that in the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, the side face 54 of the bearing block 33 portion of the driving means, and the side face 55 of support plate 36' provide limiting surfaces for de fining extents of the unoccupied space 53 through which the air is discharged over the pack of guide elements as can be seen from the drawings.

What is claimed is:

l. In a movable thread-contacting lamellae arrangement for use on a wave-type loom for weaving of textile material, wherein a first plurality of thread-contacting lamellae for effecting beat up of the weft threads and a second plurality of thread-contacting lamellae forming heddles for positioning the warp threads so as to produce sheds thereof are respectively guided during their movements in open zones between respective unitary packs of plate-like guide elements with the guide elements of each pack disposed side-by-side in a row widthwise of the loom, the improvement which comprises: air discharge means defining first and second elongated air discharging chambers arranged within the interior of the arrangement, each said chamber having a unitary air discharge opening extending lengthwise of one of the packs of guide elements and being in open communication therewith, and air passage means for supplying air to said chambers in order to provide for directing streams of cleaning air through at least the zones between the guide elements in which movements of the thread-contacting lamellae occur, whereby accumulation of textile fibers produced during the operation of the loom within said zones is prevented.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which said airdischarging chambers extend in the longitudinal direction of said packs of guide elements, said chambers each being defined by at least one limiting surface, being contiguous with their respective packs of guide elements, and opening toward the zones between said elements; said air passage means comprising a plurality of air passages which terminate in said chambers; and an air supply means connected to said passages.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 in which said first plurality of thread-contacting lamellae are lamellar reed teeth that are disposed between their guide elements and that project at one of their ends from the guide elements through the warp threads, the arrangement further including a driving means extending in the longitudinal direction of said packs of guide elements, said reed teeth being driven to perform swinging movements by said driving means and at least one of said limiting surfaces comprising a lateral face of the driving means.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 in which one of said elongated air discharging chambers is in the form of an elongated cavity which is contiguous with the driving means.

5. The arrangement of claim 3' in which said reed teeth are disposed to be swung about a horizontal plane and one of said air-discharging chambers is located above the reed teeth and extends towards a side of one of the packs of guide elements generally opposite the side from which the reed teeth project.

6. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the guide elements of at least one of said packs are held by a support which extends in the longitudinal direction of such pack, and one of said limiting surfaces comprises a side face of the support.

7. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the said air passages are formed by longitudinal slots, said slots being spaced at regular intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of the packs of guide elements.

8. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the guide elements are plate-like in form and a portion of at least one of said packs of guide elements is provided with a covering layer extending over the length of such pack for directing cleaning air into the zones between the guide elements of such pack where said reed teeth are moved.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which one of said elongated air-discharging chambers is open in a direction extending towards the textile material being woven, and the portion of said one of said packs of guide elements covered by the covering layer is located between such elongated air-discharging chamber and the textile material.

10. The arrangement of claim 2 in which said air supply means comprises a suction fan provided on the loom, the exhaust of said fan being passed via air delivery means through the air passages into said elongated air-discharging chambers.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 in which one of said air-discharging chambers is provided on one of said packs of guide elements adjacent to the textile material formed on said loom, said chamber being in open communication with said open zones and extending the length of such pack, and an air supply means for directing air uniformly along the length of said chamber. 

1. In a movable thread-contacting lamellae arrangement for use on a wave-type loom for weaving of textile material, wherein a first plurality of thread-contacting lamellae for effecting beat up of the weft threads and a second plurality of threadcontacting lamellae forming heddles for positioning the warp threads so as to produce sheds thereof are respectively guided during their movements in open zones between respective unitary packs of plate-like guide elements with the guide elements of each pack disposed side-by-side in a row widthwise of the loom, the improvement which comprises: air discharge means defining first and second elongated air discharging chambers arranged within the interior of the arrangement, each said chamber having a unitary air discharge opening extending lengthwise of one of the packs of guide elements and being in open communication therewith, and air passage means for supplying air to said chambers in order to provide for directing streams of cleaning air through at least the zones between the guide elements in which movements of the thread-contacting lamellae occur, whereby accumulation of textile fibers produced during the operation of the loom within said zones is prevented.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which said air-discharging chambers extend in the longitudinal direction of said packs of guide elements, said chambers each being defined by at least one limiting surface, being contiguous with their respective packs of guide elements, and opening toward the zones between said elements; said air passage means comprising a plurality of air passages which terminate in said chambers; and an air supply means connected to said passages.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2 in which said first plurality of thread-contacting lamellae are lamellar reed teeth that are disposed between their guide elements and that project at one of their ends from the guide elements through the warp threads, the arrangement further including a driving means extending in the longitudinal direction of said packs of guide elements, said reed teeth being driven to perform swinging movements by said driving means and at least one of said limiting surfaces comprising a lateral face of the driving means.
 4. The arrangement of claim 3 in which one of said elongated air discharging chambers is in the form of an elongated cavity which is contiguous with the driving means.
 5. The arrangement of claim 3 in which said reed teeth are disposed to be swung about a horizontal plane and one of said air-discharging chambers is located above the reed teeth and extends towards a side of one of the packs of guide elements generally opposite the side from which the reed teeth project.
 6. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the guide elements of at least one of said packs are held by a support which extends in the longitudinal direction of such pack, and one of said limiting surfaces comprises a side face of the support.
 7. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the said air passages are formed by longitudinal slots, said slots being spaced at regular intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of the packs of guide elements.
 8. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the guide elements are plate-like in form and a portion of at least one of said packs of guide elements is provided with a covering layer extending over the length of such pack for directing cleaning air into the zones between the guide elements of such pack where said reed teeth are moved.
 9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which one of said elongated air-discharging chambers is open in a direction extending towards the textile material being woven, and the portion of said one of said packs of guide elements covered by the covering layer is located between such elongated air-discharging chamber and the textile material.
 10. The arrangement of claim 2 in which said air supply means comprises a suction fan provided on the loom, the exhaust of said fan being passed via air delivery means through the air passages into said elongated air-discharging chambers.
 11. The arrangement of claim 1 in which one of said air-discharging chambers is provided on one of said packs of guide elements adjacent to the textile material formed on said loom, said chamber being in open communication with said open zones and extending the length of such pack, and an air supply means for directing air uniformly along the length of said chamber. 